The long-awaited Copa do Brasil title has never been so close for São Paulo. Even without putting on a great performance, but looking at ease at Maracanã, the São Paulo tricolor defeated Flamengo this Sunday by 1-0, a goal from Calleri, and is now just a draw at Morumbi away from their first title in the competition.
With the game over, the São Paulo fan – who filled his space in the stadium – sang at the top of his lungs that “Maraca is ours”. On the other side, the red-blacks shouted “shame” and hurled insults at Flamengo’s leaders. The early evening party in Rio was from São Paulo.
The final on Sunday afternoon – which happens for only the third time this century – was not the only novelty of the decision. It also brought an extra difficulty to both teams: heat of 32°C, which required additional effort from the players.
The good news is that at least they were able to play on a pitch (almost) worthy of a decision and Maracanã. With no games since the 26th of last month, a period during which it received special treatment, the playing field was in good condition and this time any holes would not serve as an excuse – at least not for the player who knew how to treat the ball well.
The coaches, each in their own way, also brought their news. Dorival Júnior decided to exercise caution and started the game with Rodrigo Nestor on the field and Luciano on the bench. Jorge Sampaoli, in turn, opted for a more offensive formation, with Bruno Henrique, Gabriel Barbosa and Pedro.
A team more used to attacking was everything that the troubled red and black fans, who filled the Maracanã, expected after weeks of uncertainty and discomfort with the below-average performances of the team led by Sampaoli. But the mood cooled as soon as the ball started rolling, as the offensive trio failed to create a match against São Paulo’s defensive quartet.
This is because Arboleda and Beraldo took turns as the center of defense in marking Pedro, Caio Paulista did not give space to the impatient Gabriel Barbosa on the left, and Bruno Henrique did not win duels with Rafinha on the other side.
To top it off, in the first half of the decision the one who faced the most danger was São Paulo from the apparently cautious Dorival. Not that the team was sharp all the time or exerted any type of pressure, but São Paulo at least demonstrated that they knew which way to go. And he always started with Lucas Moura, in the offensive midfield.
Almost all of São Paulo’s most lucid moves came from the feet of the number 7. Positioned at the front of the big circle, Lucas was either looking for passes to Calleri, or trying to find a winger on the flanks. In short, there was a repertoire, but it lacked efficiency – for him and, above all, for his companions.
This began to change in the final stretch of the first half, when São Paulo was already fully comfortable at Maracanã. At 40, Lucas found Rodrigo Nestor on the left, who crossed low and diagonally, Calleri threw himself at the ball, Wellington Rato did the same, but the ball went towards the bottom line. Five minutes later, Nestor repeated the dose. This time, however, he crossed high into the second half, where Calleri, completely free, headed the ball towards an indecisive Matheus Cunha, opening the scoring.
The goal almost at the end of the opening half would, in theory, give São Paulo greater peace of mind to work on their game in the second half. The team could still take advantage of Flamengo’s nervousness, who returned to the field booed by their own fans.
The game, however, started with a different dynamic to that seen in the first half. With Everton Ribeiro in Victor Hugo’s place, Flamengo advanced its lines and finally made it clear that it would make the home advantage count.
Offensive tables and triangulations, which did not exist until then, began to appear. Thus, São Paulo’s efficient defensive quartet no longer had the same ability to break the red-black game. The São Paulo team was also no longer able to exchange passes in the middle. It was up to the team to defend itself and try to launch shots for an isolated Calleri in attack.
Seeing the team cornered, Dorival Júnior tried to move. First, Alisson came out, the only one on the team so far with a yellow card; afterwards, Lucas and Nestor left the field. Gabi, Luciano and Michel Araújo entered.
The changes were not enough to make São Paulo impose itself again, but at least it freed the team from defensive suffocation. Thus, it would be enough to let time run and ensure victory in the first game of the Copa do Brasil finals. It worked out. São Paulo’s first Brazilian Cup has never been so close.
BOOING AND CURSES
Unsatisfied with the bad football and, of course, with the result of the match, part of the Flamengo fans left Maracanã early. And there was a huge boo, accompanied by unprintable insults at President Rodolfo Landim, when the stadium announcer announced the match’s revenue. The more than R$26 million is the largest collection in the history of Brazilian football in a single match.
DATASHEET:
FLAMENGO 0 X 1 SÃO PAULO
FLAMENGO – Matheus Cunha; Wesley (Matheuzinho), Fabrício Bruno, Léo Pereira and Ayrton Lucas; Erick Pulgar (Thiago Maia), Victor Hugo (Everton Ribeiro) and Gerson; Gabriel Barbosa (Everton Cebolinha), Bruno Henrique and Pedro. Coach: Jorge Sampaoli.
SÃO PAULO – Rafael; Rafinha, Arboleda, Beraldo and Caio Paulista (Welington); Pablo Maia, Alisson (Gabi), Rodrigo Nestor (Michel Araujo) and Wellington Rato (Juan); Lucas Moura (Luciano) and Calleri. Technician. Dorival Junior.
GOAL – Calleri, 45 minutes into the first half.
YELLOW CARDS – Léo Pereira and Victor Hugo (Flamengo); Alisson (São Paulo).
REFEREE – Anderson Daronco (RS).
PUBLIC – 60,390 paying (67,350 total).
INCOME – R$ 26,343,300.00.
LOCATION – Maracanã, in Rio (RJ).
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